De Lille 'unwilling' to meet backyarders

Cape Town - Landless peoples' group Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) has accused Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille of running away from a meeting with "backyarders" in Khayelitsha on Tuesday.

The group said it had mobilised the "backyarders" in the township, and many were excited to meet De Lille.

The City of Cape Town however cancelled the meeting at the last minute out of fear for De Lille's safety.

"People gathered outside the AbM office in Khayelitsha this morning," the group said in a statement.

"People were excited about the opportunity to engage with the mayor and to have their voices heard. But when the city heard that we were coming they cancelled the meeting for, they said, the 'mayor's safety'."

Mayoral spokesperson Solly Malatsi said the meeting was moved to the civic centre because the city did not want any "disruptions".

"This was an important meeting and it was important that it had to proceed. When we were made aware of possible disruptions, we moved it here."

De Lille took several rounds of questions from representatives of backyarder groups on Tuesday afternoon.

New chapter

In a speech, which she read at the civic centre, she said she wanted to start a "new chapter" of relations between the city and backyarder communities.

De Lille said she knew many would come to the meeting to find out when they would receive a house. She said Cape Town’s government had constraints as to how many "housing opportunities" it could deliver in one year.

"Last year, we had just over R700m for housing. Other city revenues are used to keep basic services running. That is about R700m for everyone in the whole city who needs a house."

De Lille said a housing project started today would only be completed in around three or four years.

"Using it to maximum effect, that money is used to deliver, on average, just under 7 000 new housing opportunities per year," she said.

There were 450 000 households on the housing backlog and, due to urbanisation, 16 000 houses were added to that figure by people who moved to Cape Town.

"The housing list is long. It is growing. We have limited resources. We are doing the best we can."

De Lille said the city had started a project in three pilot sites in Langa, Hanover Park and Factreton to assess the scale of services needed by backyarders.

"These are engineering surveys. They have been conducted to see what structures there are in an area. These pilot projects allow us to assess the scale of services needed," she said.

Comments

Hochang - 2011-09-06 20:35

Why is this backlog not being cleared?

Casie - 2011-09-06 20:58

Becouse more people WANT FREE houses than taxpayers are able to pay.

PinkAndProud - 2011-09-06 21:50

@Casie - you're right about more free houses than taxpayers are able to pay, but you also forgot about the looting by the ANC and their consideration that driving fancy cars and living the high life is more important than providing for the homeless.

letwice - 2011-09-07 09:16

I could be wrong but according to the report that means each house is worth R100K, seems a bit too much to me for a 4 room house.

DeonL - 2011-09-07 09:22

If my maths is correct you have to wait up to 64 years for a home if the backlog stays the same, wich does not. (450 000 divide by 7 000 per year). Rather work and save and pay off your own home.

william.botha - 2011-09-06 20:47

Patricia, my kinda lady. Viva Patricia.

tommy 2 - 2011-09-06 23:19

Now we know your taste in a lady.......

Casie - 2011-09-06 20:56

So meeting was held at the civic centre?
What they are talking about?
They WANT free houses, they WANT free service, but not willing to put an effort even to go to more appropriate place for the meeting?

M_M467 - 2011-09-06 20:58

What about high rise buildings if u can't build houses for everyone.it's obvious from the figures that they will never reach the target. I live in a flat and don't have a problem with that.

Marius - 2011-09-06 21:00

get the unemployed youth to help build these houses. get the communities involved.